With the introduction to Gen 7, Gigalith has seen a metric rise in usage as the sole Sand Stream user in the VGC 17 format, and surprisingly capable in this format thanks to its varies offensive and defensive qualities. Like most Rock-type Pokemon, Gigalith has a high base Attack and Defense stats respectively, a boosted Special Defense thanks to its Sand Stream ability summoning sand, and viable move coverage to utilize. Despite having an abysmal speed stat of 25, this actually benefits Gigalith in maintaining its sand against opposing weather setters, and outspeed nearly all Pokemon in a Trick Room setting. From an offensive standpoint, Gigalith is a great tank who can withstand most non-super effective hits thanks to its naturally high defensive stats and can pressure its opponents with its STAB Rock-type moves and useful options like Earthquake, Wide Guard, and Curse. Thanks to its defensive capabilities, Gigalith checks a good portion of the format such as Tapu Koko, Arcanine, Alolan Muk, Porygon2, Nihilego, and a host of other Pokemon.

That said, Gigalith's Rock-typing and slow speed stat is a let down given the plethora of strong Water-, Grass-, Fighting-, Steel-, and Ground-type there are in the current VGC 17 format. Even with its high defense stat and boosted special defense from the sand, Gigalith cannot respond fast enough to faster threats and might have to withstand such super effective hits and needs Trick Room support to function well. Fortunately, Gigalith's has a high attack stat with reliable coverage moves like Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Earthquake, etc to hit most of the format for near perfect coverage. Even with its slow speed stat, Gigalith is a difficult mon to stop with Trick Room support if its partner manages to set itself into good positioning. Its best to use Gigalith when the opponents don't have clear responses to a capable Rock-type tank who can withstand most hits and retaliate hard in return.

Milestones:
- Has a 3.5% chance of being 2HKOed by Timid Life Orb Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt
- Tapu Lele's Z-Psychic has a 12.5% chance to OHKO Gigalith in sand.
- Can potentially OHKO 252 HP Arcanine, Alolan Marowak, and Araquanid with Stone Edge.

As mentioned, Gigaliths high defensive stats and usable coverage moves makes itself a potent bulky offensive Pokemon in the format. Rockium Z is a popular item and Z-move choice that allows Gigalith to inflict massive Rock-type damage against a target who doesn't appreciate it like Fire-, Flying-, Bug-, or Ice-type Pokemon. Despite the shacky accuracy and power point value, some Gigalith base their Continental Crush on the Rock-type Stone Edge for a whopping 180 base damage before STAB. If Stone Edge isn't as good option, Rock Slide is slightly more accurate with high Power Points, yet its Z-Move will be signifcantly lowered to 140 base damage instead. To round off its coverage, Earthquake is a staple strong Ground-type move to hit the ever common Electric-, Steel-, Fire-, Poison-, and opposing Rock-types Pokemon.

Most options for Gigalith usually deviate from here given the team compositions and what best suits the Rock-type. Wide Guard is a good support move to block spread damage like Earthquake or Discharge from harming its allies. Heavy Slam is a decently strong coverage option notably used against Fairy-type Pokemon such as Tapu Lele, Mimikyu, and Alolan Ninetales who don't appreciate a base 120 Steel-type move. Groundium Z can be used to lure potential ground-weak Pokemon such as Alolan Muk or Tapu Koko and potentially OHKO them in one hit. Lastly, Weakness Policy is an interesting item choice which give Gigalith +2 Attack, but needs to be hit with a super effective move, so timing and potentially self damage is key.

For a list of damage calculations for this Magnezone set, see below for offensive calcs.

Even with an impressively high base 135 attack and 130 defense stat, Gigalith has access to the move Curse which can bolster these two stats to formidable heights. Unlike most Curse user like Snorlax or Alolan Muk who have somewhat respectable attack stats, Gigalith already a higher attack and better defense on both ends to start out with and can become an immediate threat to the opponent with one Curse boost. Likewise, make sure to have a Trick Room option for Gigalith to ensure it can outspeed its opponents its lackluster speed, and pick off any target with with Rock- and Ground-type coverage. For Rock-type coverage, Stone Edge is preferred for a couple of reasons given Gigalith has a stronger base Z-move with it than Rock Slide and doesn't get blocked by Wide Guard. Rock Slide is a decent alternative for more Power Points and the flinch option (in Trick Room), however note Z-Rock Slide is much less powerful and a Wide Guard user can potentially block this set. Earthquake is Gigalith's main response to any Fire-, Steel-, Poison-, and Rock-type Pokemon on the field. In fact, a +1 Earthquake from this set has a 100% chance to OHKO 4 HP Tapu Koko and 2HKO other Gigalith. For item choice, it comes down to whether the user wants a one-time nuke in Z-Stone Edge / Z-Rock Slide likely coming from a boosted Curse, or if HP replenishment and more setup chances from Figy Berry or other 50% berries is preferred.

Gigalith is one of the few Pokemon in the format who benefits greatly with the Assault Vest given it has a workable coverage options and few necessary status moves aside Protect or Wide Guard. With the raised special defense stat thanks to the sandstorm it brings, Gigalith's special defense stat reaches at about over 200 (223 for this set) and is capable of withstanding some of the strongest special attacks in the format. Two examples of these incredible feats include Gigalith withstanding two Life Orb Psychic from the common Tapu Lele or Thunderbolt from Tapu Koko in their respective terrain and with the chance to OHKO them afterward. With the Assault Vest, Gigalith can be used as a decent check to many special attackers in the format who aren't able to OHKO it back immediately such as Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, Nihilego, Porygon-Z, etc. For coverage, Rock Slide is listed to deal spread damage against foes and can flinch targets down, assuming Gigalith is under Trick Room. Earthquake inflicts super effective damage against Fire-, Electric-, Steel-, and Rock-type Pokemon who are common such as Arcanine, Tapu Koko, Nihilego, Metagross. Heavy Slam is decent Steel-type coverage to potentially OHKO most Fairy-type Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Mimikyu, Comfey, etc especially given Gigalith's weight. Stone Edge is a secondary Rock-type STAB which can deal better than than Rock-type against super effective targets with a high crit chance, but has flimsy accuracy. Lastly, Bulldoze is an option in case Gigalith's team needs speed control of sorts by lower the speed of the targets by one stage.

Grass-types - Both Water- and Ground-types heavily pressure Gigalith with their own super effective attacks. In response, Grass-types are useful to counter balance both these types with their strong STAB moves ( EX. Kartana, Tapu Bulu, Dhelmise, etc )

Electric-types - With the large influx of Water-types Pokmon in the format, having Electric-types can act as an offensive check most of them with their fast super effective Electric-type attacks. ( Ex. Tapu Koko, Xurkitree, Alolan Raichu, etc)

Fire-types - Two of Gigaliths main weaknesses are Steel- and Grass-type and its best counters such Kartana are extremely weak to them. Having a Fire-type on the team can at least keep any Steel- or Grass-types in check. ( Ex. Arcanine, Talonflame, Alolan Marowak, Incineroar, etc etc. )

Intimidate Support - Any form of Intimidate support from its allies can benefit Gigalith in withstanding stronger physical hits meanwhile Gigalith can retaliate back with one of its coverage moves. ( Ex. Arcanine, Krookodile, Gyarados, Salamence, etc).

Trick Room Support - Gigalith won't be outspeeding any threats with its base 25 speed, but certainly will after its partner setups the Trick Room field condition. ( Ex. Porygon2, Mimikyu, Oranguru, etc. )

Sand Storm Abusers: Certain Pokemon like Rock-types receive a 50% increase in Special Defense. Other Pokemon with Sand Veil like Garchomp receive boost in its evasion.

@RetroTyphlosion that ev spread is literally impossible to obtain legally lmao. also i'd recommend using pokemon showdown exports when showing us sets, it'll make it easier for both you and for us. anyways, that set is definitely sub optimal as offensive gigalith appreciates being able to switch moves since its moves are easily wall-able.

(May 12, 2017, 04:54 PM)écarlate Wrote: @RetroTyphlosion that ev spread is literally impossible to obtain legally lmao. also i'd recommend using pokemon showdown exports when showing us sets, it'll make it easier for both you and for us. anyways, that set is definitely sub optimal as offensive gigalith appreciates being able to switch moves since its moves are easily wall-able.

Oh, sorry, I see what went wrong with the ev's. I meant to put 4 in SpDef, but I Did a typo. Also, I have no idea what a showdown export is.

Idk if it's too late to post here but I have my2cents. The Curse set is particullary good in TR teams, using the Rock STAB and the low Spe to OHKO other TR abuser such as AMarowak and Araquanid, but the preferred items should be Groundium Z, wich makes EQ a more usefull coverage, and Fightinium Z, wich turns Superpower in a extraordinary tool to OHKO Snorlax. Rockium Z is ok if you just need sheer power, but Celesteela is the only reason to use it instead of the others two.